Improvement in seal-locks



J. J. TILLINGHA ST. Seal-Look.

No. 216,631. Patented June 17, I879.

(ID (ID GL4 III - QW Q N4 PETERS, FHOYOUTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

JOSEPH J. TILLINGHAST, QFTBOY, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEAL- LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,631, dated. June 17, 1879; application filed April 28, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH J. TILLINGHAST, of the city of Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Hasps and Staples, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, with the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the hasp and staple complete and sealed. Fig. 2 represents the hasp, staple, and seal separately; and Fig. 3 is a section of hasp and staple.

The nature of my invention consists 'in making a hasp so that it can be sealed in the staple, and not removable therefrom without breaking the seal.

I am aware that various devices have been made for sealing the fasteniugs of boxes, trunks, &c.; but I amnot aware of any de vice similar to my invention. 7

My device is more particularly adapted for use upon cans, boxes, trunks, and packages used for inclosing goods, merchandise. &c., to be transported upon railroads and vessels, and to car-doors and doors of store and baggage rooms. It is well known that cans of milk, fruitpackages, trunks, and freight-car doors are frequently opened by unauthorized persons and some of the contents stolen during transportation, and the owner, and sometimes the carrier, are unable to ascertain in whose possession the property was at the time of the theft.

The object of my invention is to enable the carrier or the consignee to ascertain whether .the package was opened before delivery to such carrier, or after such delivery and before delivery to the consignee.

A is the hasp, one end of which is secured to the cover of the package or to the door or door-jamb, in the ordinary manner. At the opposite end of the hasp is a projecting pin or cutter, B, long enough and sharp enough to cut the seal when the cover is removed or door opened. To the body of the package or. to

the door-jamb the staple G is secured at each end, leaving an open space or slit under a portion of it for inserting the seal. On the outer side of this staple C is a flanged groove, and the hasp A is madewith flanges on each side, so as to slide into this groove, where it can be secured by a pin (or a padlock may be used) in the end of the hasp. The seal is made of a thin strip of paper or other suitable material, having adhesive ends, and upon which may be stamped or engraved any name or device, and also upon which may be entered the date of shipment or other memoranda. This seal is :passed under the staple 0 after the cover or door is closed, and the ends brought over the hasp and secured together by the adhesive material thereon or by other means.

Its operation is as follows: When the cover or door is closed the hasp passes through the groove in the staple, and is there secured by a pin or padlock in the lower end of the hasp. The seal is then passed under the staple and over the hasp and secured, as above described. When the cover or door is opened the hasp must be withdrawn from the staple, and in so doing the cutter B on end of hasp necessarily cuts through the seal, which cannot be repaired beyond detection.

.WhatI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A hasp having a projecting cutter on its outer end, in combination with a staple having a groove in which said hasp slides, and a slit or opening under it for inserting a strip of material to be sealed around such hasp and staple, substantially as and for the purposes herein described.

. 2. A hasp, in combination with a cutter secured thereon, a staple, in which said hasp slides, and the seat I), secured around such hasp and staple, substantially as herein described.

In wituess whereof I have hereto set my hand this 11th day of March, 1879.

JOSEPH J. TILLINGHAST.

Witnesses N. DAVENPORT,

G. RIoRnAN. 

